Participants
Pilot testing was performed on 6 volunteers (3 patients in the NTT group and 3 patients in the TT group) to determine the number of participants required in the present study. A power analysis based on the results of the pilot study was completed to achieve a significant level (.05), power (.80), and effect size (.92). The results of the power analysis showed that the current study would require 6 participants in each group. G*Power software provided power analyses (G*Power software 3.1.2; Franz Faul, University of Kiel, Kiel, Germany).
Thirty patients with poststroke volunteered to participate in the present study. The inclusion criteria for participation were as follows: (1) hemiparesis with onset duration of more than 6 months, (2) cognition (25 points in the Mini Mental State Examination)32 and physical ability sufficient for the testing and treatment procedures, (3) no training in any interventions related to gait concurrently from other institutions, (4) gait speed over .5 m/ second, enough to exercise on the treadmill, and (5) independent gait possible over 10 m.33 The exclusion criteria were as follows: (1) any comorbidity or disability other than stroke that precluded gait training, (2) any uncontrolled health conditions for which exercise in contraindicated, and (3) no subluxation. Table 1 summarizes clinical information of the participants. The participants consisted of 7 patients with right hemiplegia and 23 with left hemiplegia. In addition, to provide information on the participants’ motor functions and sensory functions, Fugl-Meyer assessment values were provided in the table.34 We provided detailed information about the procedure of the study and safety in the test and treatment to the participants, and obtained written informed consent from them. Participation in the study was voluntary and the participants fully understood the contents of the study. All participants were informed about the tests and the use of the results, and were asked to sign a written statement in which they formally consented to the inclusion of the study. The study was approved by the Wonkwang University institutional review board.